Cagliari 2 Milan 3: Not a perfect match but Scudetto dream is back on

With Milan’s win in Sardinia the Scudetto dream for Leo and his side is still very much alive. Just three points is the difference between the Rossoneri and leaders Inter and with Inter still participating in the Champions League, there is every chance that Milan may just get there.

However, Milan’s remaining fixtures will difficult with tricky ties against Palermo, Juventus and Fiorentina to come. So it will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. In addition, Milan are of course without Nesta and Pato which makes achieving positive results in the remaining fixtures all that much harder.

But what was evidenced on Saturday in Sardinia was a Milan side that showed that it is still serious about challenging for the title, well at least they did in the first half. It was by no means a great performance, but in the first half Milan displayed a determination that in previous weeks had gone missing.

Despite a positive display in the first half, which was enough to get Milan the win, it was Milan’s second half display that was concerning. So much so that the Rossoneri in the end were just plain lucky to take all three points as Cagliari pressed for the equaliser in the second half and were extremely unlucky not to find one.

In fact, Milan were completely outplayed in the second half and had it not been for a man of the match display by Dida, Milan would have only come away with a point, if that.

Dida was superb and Milan have him to thank for all three points, along with Astori who scored the winning own-goal.

Alongside Dida, Seedorf was also impressive along with the whole attacking trio of Ronaldinho, Huntelaar and Borriello with the latter two scoring two fine goals between them.

Again, after a fine performance last week, Favalli reminded us all just how costly he can be. Cagliari’s first goal was a direct result of his rather hapless defending and on another day it may of cost Milan points.

Despite the win, despite the relief that this team has shown it can win without Nesta and Pato, one cannot feel overly confident still about this team’s chances of winning the title.

Sure there were some good individual performances and one wonder goal too, but there were many poor individual performances also and the team as a whole did not perform for the full ninety minutes.

Instead, Milan were second best to Cagliari for much of the match and Cagliari are not a great side this year. With fixtures coming up against Juventus, Fiorentina and Palermo, Milan will have to improve significantly on this performance if they are indeed to push further for the title.

For now, however, Milan can look forward to the real possibility that the Scudetto may just be theirs. With this, perhaps the players may be inspired somewhat to go that little extra and produce something special in these last remaining fixtures. We wait with anticipation.